Silverado coach Record experiences Kobe finale at Staples Center
Michael Record was working out with some of his Silverado boys basketball players when he got a text from his brother, Patrick Record, at 2:14 p.m. on April 13.
Patrick asked his brother if he could make it down to Staples Center by 7 p.m.
Patrick works as a freelance visual journalist in Los Angeles and was hired to do some audio and video work for ESPN for the mother of all going away parties — Kobe Bryant’s final NBA game.
Michael knew that much in the days leading up to the game. But on game day, Patrick asked Michael if he’d be available to help out with his gig.
“When I looked at that text, I was like oh man, if he can make this happen this will be once in a lifetime to be there,” Michael said. “My brother, he looked out for me for sure.”
So he scrambled down to Staples Center and got to witness Kobe’s grand finale. He’d been planning to watch the game at home. Maybe he’d get together a few buddies and get some beers and watch.
This was a much, much better view.
Record, who’s helped out his brother from time to time on assignments in the past, said calling what he did “work” is a bit of stretch. He helped move some chairs, he said. He was in a tunnel for most of the game. He watched most of the game on a TV with several seconds of delay, but he could hear the crowd roar at every turn. Just to be at the game in the crazed atmosphere was enough, he said.
He passed Jay Z. He was close to ESPN personalities Shelly Smith and Stephen A. Smith.
Record said he’s never been much of a Lakers or Kobe fan. He doesn’t even really have an NBA team at the moment — coincidentally his team was the Utah Jazz, the team the Lakers beat, during the Stockton and Malone era. But being at Staples Center to see Kobe go out and ball one last time was special regardless.
“He’s quite a scorer,” Record said. “You have to respect his game and what he accomplished. He is great and you have to respect that. To experience that I’m not going to turn it down.”
After the game he pocketed some of confetti that had fallen on the floor to keep as memento. As then he was about to leave, he could hear the party continuing on.
Record said he got back home around 2:30 a.m. and was back to work at Silverado the next day.
The surreal day was done.
